The next morning, Ethan showed the photo to Alex over breakfast. She didn't look up from her eggs.
"David R.?" she mumbled, chewing. "The name rings a bell. Gimme a second."
Claire, who had just poured herself a cup of coffee, squinted at the black-and-white image. "Wait, where did you get this?"
"School project," Ethan lied smoothly. "Kind of a scavenger hunt thing."
"You're doing extracurriculars voluntarily?" Claire asked, suspicious.
"I am... evolving."
Phil poked his head in from the living room. "That's what I said about avocados! First you're skeptical, then one day you're knee-deep in guac!"
Alex rolled her eyes and left the room, muttering something about checking her "actual archives," which Ethan guessed meant her absurdly detailed folder system upstairs.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Ethan pulled out his flip phone—a retro habit he hadn't been able to shake—and fired off a group message:
Ethan:
Alex might know something. She's checking her files. Meet after school? Gym bleachers?
Gus:
Already scheduled a meeting slot.
Jane:
Bringing yearbooks. Some are in rough shape. So am I.
Cher:
What is the dress code for sleuthing? Asking for my eyeliner.
Shawn:
I'm bringing Bugles and a notepad titled "Locker Conspiracy Vol. 1."
Maya:
I'll bring sanity. We're clearly low on it.
By 4 p.m., the group was huddled under the bleachers in the old gym. The metal seats above echoed with the occasional sound of bouncing basketballs, but otherwise, it was private enough.
Jane spread out three dusty yearbooks like ancient scrolls. "Only made it to 2006. We might need to dig deeper."
Ethan looked at the first book. "Do we know when David disappeared?"
"No official record," Gus said. "I've searched the school website, district news archives, even old detention logs. Nada."
"Wait, wait," Cher said, leaning over a page. "Here. David R. Look."
They all crowded around.
There he was—second row, glasses slightly askew, with a faint smile. He looked no older than thirteen.
"His full name is David Rivera," Maya whispered.
"That's our guy," Jane confirmed. "But there's no mention of him past seventh grade. Not in club photos, honor roll, nothing. He's just… gone."
Ethan stared at the grainy image. The name tugged at him now. Rivera. It sounded like the kind of name someone might forget unless someone made sure they didn't.
"Okay," Shawn said, sitting back. "Let's list our facts. We've got: one missing locker, one missing kid, and a mystery page hidden like it's a secret relic."
"And no real leads," Gus added.
Cher frowned. "Maybe we're looking too big. Maybe the answer isn't some wild conspiracy. Maybe it's just sad. He could've moved. Dropped out. Or something worse."
Ethan's stomach twisted. "But then why the hidden note? Why keep his name there?"
Maya touched the edge of the photo. "It feels like someone wanted us to find it."
"Or someone didn't want to forget," Jane said quietly.
The group fell into a thoughtful silence.
Then, from the bleachers above, a familiar voice called out.
"Whatcha doing?"
They all looked up—Luke, hanging halfway over the railing, grinning.
"Investigating," Ethan replied cautiously.
"Oh! Like a mystery?" Luke leaned further. "Is it about that one locker that makes weird noises?"
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "You heard about it?"
"Yeah," Luke said. "Alex told me. She said some seventh grader cried and ran away. I tried to open the locker too but couldn't. I thought it was like, a magical portal. Or full of bees."
"Why bees?" Maya asked.
"Why not?" Luke shrugged. "Anyway, I saw a teacher messing with it once. The weird one. Mr. Daley. He teaches history but smells like vinegar."
Gus perked up. "Wait, what?"
"I'm serious!" Luke nodded. "He had a key or something. Like a tiny one. I saw him open that part of the wall like a door. Then he went in and shut it again."
Ethan stood. "When was this?"
"Last week," Luke said. "Tuesday. I only remember because it was the day my burrito exploded."
The group stared at each other.
"Well," Jane said slowly, "looks like we just got our first lead."
The next morning, Ethan arrived early, standing outside Mr. Daley's classroom and pretending to read a flyer about recycling while sneaking glances through the window.
Mr. Daley was already inside, sipping coffee and grading papers. His face was unreadable—sharp eyes, graying stubble, and a permanent expression that said I've seen things.
When the bell rang, Ethan headed in and slipped into a seat near the front.
He didn't hear much of the lesson.
His mind buzzed with questions.
Had Mr. Daley known David Rivera?
Was he the one who left the photo?
And more importantly—why?
After class, Ethan lingered behind, fiddling with his pencil.
"Need something?" Mr. Daley asked, looking up.
Ethan took a breath. "Um... weird question, but... do you know who David Rivera is?"
The man froze. His pen stopped moving.
Ethan's heart stuttered.
Mr. Daley looked up slowly. "Where'd you hear that name?"
"I found something," Ethan said, measured. "In the old east wing lockers. A photo. From the yearbook."
Mr. Daley looked at him for a long moment. Then he stood and closed the classroom door.
"You're not the first to ask," he said quietly. "But you might be the first who actually found it."
The following day, Ethan sat with the others in the library's farthest corner, away from the stacks, away from the noise. He told them everything.
"Daley was a student here when David went missing," he said. "They weren't friends, but he remembered him. Said David was quiet. Smart. Kept to himself."
"And then what?" Gus asked.
"One day, he just... stopped coming to school. No explanation. No notice. No transfer. His family left town a week later."
Jane leaned forward. "And the school?"
"Covered it up," Ethan said. "Daley said it was swept under the rug. He doesn't know why. But he says that locker used to be David's. The new number system skipped it. But they never filled it in."
"Why leave the photo?" Maya asked.
"Daley said he couldn't forget," Ethan replied. "He didn't want anyone to. He slipped the page in years ago when he got hired. Said he checks on it sometimes."
"Like a memorial," Cher whispered.
"Exactly."
Gus shook his head. "That's... heavy."
"It is," Ethan agreed. "But now we know. And I don't want it to end with us."
They stared at the photo again.
DAVID R. – MISSING BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.
Ethan took out a fresh notebook.
"Let's make sure no one forgets again."